War hero rejects military medal / News / The Foreigner

War hero rejects military medal. Veteran says it’s a matter of principle. WWII veteran Leif Kjemperud doesn’t want the prestigious Norwegian War Cross. He says he isn’t interested in receiving the highest honour one can get because of its role in the war in Afghanistan, according to Romerikes Blad. The 88 year-old from Hønefoss in Østlandet was a member of the communist saboteur organisation called “Osvald-gruppen”.

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WWII veteran Leif Kjemperud doesn’t want the prestigious Norwegian War Cross. He says he isn’t interested in receiving the highest honour one can get because of its role in the war in Afghanistan, according to Romerikes Blad.

The 88 year-old from Hønefoss in Østlandet was a member of the communist saboteur organisation called “Osvald-gruppen”.

Earlier this week, the government decided to confer the cross on its members for the first time in 60 years, awarding it posthumously to Captain Eiliv Austlid who was shot by the Germans in 1940. Just 147 Norwegians have been decorated with it previously.

But Kjemperud says he doesn’t want the partisan group likened with today’s offensive.

“Norway is an occupying force in Afghanistan. This can’t be compared with the battle we fought as members of the resistance against the Germans,” he tells NRK.